Sometimes it's fun to win the point from a lard butt who can't chase down a drop serve.
I don't find this fun at all. The same way I wouldn't find it fun to make fun of you for having diabetes.
Sometimes it's fun to win the point from a lard butt who can't chase down a drop serve.
I don't find this fun at all. The same way I wouldn't find it fun to make fun of you for having diabetes.
oh, you mean to say its hard to chase it down? then either request your opponent not to do that (just a normal match, for fun), or get better at running.I don't find this fun at all. The same way I wouldn't find it fun to make fun of you for having diabetes.
oh, you mean to say its hard to chase it down? then either request your opponent not to do that (just a normal match, for fun), or get better at running.
No it isn't hard to chase them down for me. But I'm also not your average tennis player as I'm still relatively young and in great physical shape. It's not going to be an effective tactic against me. The only time it would be is if I'm not ready and I'm going to call a let on you and make you serve again.
My issue with it is the fact it's only effective against people who 1) aren't ready 2) have physical limitations.
Congrats if you're like @MathGeek and you want to feel better about yourself by hitting a drop shot serve against the 300 lb guy or 65 year old with double hip replacements who's just trying to have fun playing social tennis.
The reputation that comes with being a dude who drop serves isn't worth whatever small benefit it might provide.
What I might mean by "drop serve" is not hitting an actual forehand drop shot, but just letting the ball drop a little lower than usual and brushing it with a downward motion on the overhand so that it trickles over the net and barely bounces.
Is it an instant reputation killer, as I expect?
The "drop-shot" serve is a very difficult shot to pull off and nine out of ten times I've tried it, it goes into the net--but it's fun to try.
Thank you for the tips, yes better-over-then-under--especially over the net, hitting into the net gets you nowhere. It's just my bad luck I keep getting Usain Bolt in the first rounds.Unless you're playing a jackrabbit, you only need to hit a good or even just a decent one.
You should also be closing in to the net to cut off his angles.
Thank you for the tips, yes better-over-then-under--especially over the net, hitting into the net gets you nowhere. It's just my bad luck I keep getting Usain Bolt in the first rounds.
IMO, the reason this is happening is that you're trying to hit a great DSS, where the margin of error is small. Unless you're playing a jackrabbit, you only need to hit a good or even just a decent one. Even if your opponent gets to the ball, his momentum will be forward and he'll be vulnerable to the lob. You should also be closing in to the net to cut off his angles. If you do that twice to someone in a set, you may seriously deplete their energy reserves. Twice in one game could be deadly.
If the server drop serves in doubles, can the returner's partner at the net play the return?
That's right. And I've been curious about that WTT rule:I'm pretty sure the answer is no, but I do know that in World Team Tennis, where you don't play lets, the net man can return a let serve that lands in the box. I have only played one WTT match, and this didn't come up, but I really want to do it at least once for the novelty.
So back to WTT; service lets are not called. But after a service let, either player on the return team can return.
But what about returning a non-let serve? The phrasing of the WTT rules makes it sound like the 'either player can return' part applies only for a let serve. But there is no call or decision made for a let serve. So what if returner's partner returns the serve (any serve) and then claims that it was a let serve?
Pretty sure that per the rules, returner's partner can stand anywhere.It's an interesting question, but I don't think it's super practical. First, isn't it illegal for the doubles partner to stand in the box? So for this to work, you'd have to stand close to the center line, hit a weird volley off the serve, and then either hope it was a let or lie about it being a let. I don't see it being a major problem, haha.
That's right. And I've been curious about that WTT rule:
One of the reasons for playing let serves is to remove the need to call lets. In the college game, there had been cases of players cheating by calling phantom lets, so playing let serves simplified things.
So back to WTT; service lets are not called. But after a service let, either player on the return team can return.
But what about returning a non-let serve? The phrasing of the WTT rules makes it sound like the 'either player can return' part applies only for a let serve. But there is no call or decision made for a let serve. So what if returner's partner returns the serve (any serve) and then claims that it was a let serve?
It's an interesting question, but I don't think it's super practical. First, isn't it illegal for the doubles partner to stand in the box? So for this to work, you'd have to stand close to the center line, hit a weird volley off the serve, and then either hope it was a let or lie about it being a let. I don't see it being a major problem, haha.
Pretty sure that per the rules, returner's partner can stand anywhere.
Here's what could happen - all in theory. You are returning from the ad court, partner from deuce. Your partner has been 'on', and returning better than you. Critical point coming up on the ad side. You step a bit aside, and your partner gets ready to return from ad (wrong) side. Opponents can complain, but this is totally within the rules so far - there is no restriction on where you or your partner have to stand for the return.
Opponent serves, your partner returns, and you both claim it was a let serve.
Since WTT does not cover calling let serves, and in fact states that let should never be called on serve (you lose the point if you call let on a serve), who's to say?
Obviously a contrived extreme example, but I think it points out the logical hole in the WTT rules.
If you are not going to recognize let serves, then you cannot have any rule that is specific to a let serve.
So either require the official returner to always return (partner cannot return let serve), or else make it a free for all and let anyone return anything!
lol, it's only annoying to me if my opponent is successful...We have a guy in our doubles league who does it once or twice every service game. It does get a little annoying but it's a game.
got invited to play some 3.0-3.5 tennis... i played a couple sets this weekend serving this way... i had a lot of funIf you're getting paid to play go on with your bad self.
Most of us are playing recreational tennis and the goal should be to have fun.
lol, i've caught plenty of young folks 20's-and-in-shape...No it isn't hard to chase them down for me. But I'm also not your average tennis player as I'm still relatively young and in great physical shape. It's not going to be an effective tactic against me. The only time it would be is if I'm not ready and I'm going to call a let on you and make you serve again.
My issue with it is the fact it's only effective against people who 1) aren't ready 2) have physical limitations.
Congrats if you're like @MathGeek and you want to feel better about yourself by hitting a drop shot serve against the 300 lb guy or 65 year old with double hip replacements who's just trying to have fun playing social tennis.
... It was one of the better players in my league who was suffering from a bad knee and who got pissed at me...
... totally taking him by surprise and pissing him off as much as I had been when he drop served on me.
I don't understand getting pissed off at any legal shot. To me it would be a wake-up call to change things around, be more alert, move-in on the return a step. I would relish the opportunity to change and hopefully improve. If he's got a bad knee, he shouldn't be out, he should be on the deck holding an ice-bag, having a beer with the rest of the week-end wounded warriors. Or, he should take his lumps like a man and suck it up--or move onto golf or croquet, where vigorous running is not required. I can see being pissed off at an opponent who is cheating, or trying to get in your head with gamesmanship but not due to a well executed shot.
I don't understand getting pissed off at any legal shot. To me it would be a wake-up call to change things around, be more alert, move-in on the return a step. I would relish the opportunity to change and hopefully improve. If he's got a bad knee, he shouldn't be out, he should be on the deck holding an ice-bag, having a beer with the rest of the week-end wounded warriors. Or, he should take his lumps like a man and suck it up--or move onto golf or croquet, where vigorous running is not required. I can see being pissed off at an opponent who is cheating, or trying to get in your head with gamesmanship but not due to a well executed shot.
A few disclaimers up top...
1. I've never tried this in a match, and I'm sure I never will. The reputation that comes with being a dude who drop serves isn't worth whatever small benefit it might provide. The tricky part of my soul wants to, but the juice isn't worth the squeeze.
2. I also know that it's not a great strategy once you reach a certain level (I'm 3.5).
All that being said, I'm convinced that a short serve would work if used as a very rare changeup. What I might mean by "drop serve" is not hitting an actual forehand drop shot, but just letting the ball drop a little lower than usual and brushing it with a downward motion on the overhand so that it trickles over the net and barely bounces. If someone's expecting it, it would get crushed, but if you've got them backed up with hard serves, I tend to think you could steal a point or two this way.
I guess my question is, does anyone do this? Or have you played with anyone who has done it? Is it an instant reputation killer, as I expect? Is it hilarious when it works?
One player on the top 3 or 4 on my club's very competitive ladder tournament has as his second serve exactly what you suggest.A few disclaimers up top...
1. I've never tried this in a match, and I'm sure I never will. The reputation that comes with being a dude who drop serves isn't worth whatever small benefit it might provide. The tricky part of my soul wants to, but the juice isn't worth the squeeze.
2. I also know that it's not a great strategy once you reach a certain level (I'm 3.5).
All that being said, I'm convinced that a short serve would work if used as a very rare changeup. What I might mean by "drop serve" is not hitting an actual forehand drop shot, but just letting the ball drop a little lower than usual and brushing it with a downward motion on the overhand so that it trickles over the net and barely bounces. If someone's expecting it, it would get crushed, but if you've got them backed up with hard serves, I tend to think you could steal a point or two this way.
I guess my question is, does anyone do this? Or have you played with anyone who has done it? Is it an instant reputation killer, as I expect? Is it hilarious when it works?
i like bharami's version:For those that enjoy doing the drop shot serve, I came up with a way to do it that I haven't seen anyone do before and it really works if you time it right. It is however more difficult to do than the typical Chang type drop shot serve.
Basically you go about your serve routine normally, bounce the ball then do the toss normally. Then you stay in the trophy pose and freeze that way as the ball drops. Before the ball hits the ground sweep under the ball in your same service grip and impart massive underspin.
This way is difficult but if you time it right you can get the ball to cut to the side about 4-5 feet after it drops. Its easier on the ad side as a righty but you can do it on the deuce side down the T also. I had an ace against a 5.5 D1 college player down the T and have won a lot of points with it, many of which the opponent doesnt even move.
Since its difficult to do no one has gotten upset about me doing it, usually its the opposite, they like seeing a new serve they've never seen.
Hope you guys give it a try.
i like bharami's version:at 0:22
For those that enjoy doing the drop shot serve, I came up with a way to do it that I haven't seen anyone do before and it really works if you time it right. It is however more difficult to do than the typical Chang type drop shot serve.
Basically you go about your serve routine normally, bounce the ball then do the toss normally. Then you stay in the trophy pose and freeze that way as the ball drops. Before the ball hits the ground sweep under the ball in your same service grip and impart massive underspin.
This way is difficult but if you time it right you can get the ball to cut to the side about 4-5 feet after it drops. Its easier on the ad side as a righty but you can do it on the deuce side down the T also. I had an ace against a 5.5 D1 college player down the T and have won a lot of points with it, many of which the opponent doesnt even move.
Since its difficult to do no one has gotten upset about me doing it, usually its the opposite, they like seeing a new serve they've never seen.
Hope you guys give it a try.
I practice this once in a while, it's awesome. Horribly inconsistent still, so I haven't tried it in a match, but the side-spin is so awesome when you get it right.
i believe he hit it with the opposite side of the racquet... ie a reverse slice (ie. a righty hitting a lefty slice).... interesting serve, and have actually encountered it in usta 4.5 (was vs a teaching pro when he was up 40-love)In the Brahimi video, what was the first serve in the video?
Was that just a regular ace? Why "so clever" ?
i believe he hit it with the opposite side of the racquet... ie a reverse slice (ie. a righty hitting a lefty slice).... interesting serve, and have actually encountered it in usta 4.5 (was vs a teaching pro when he was up 40-love)
but like the drop shot, you get used to the movement cue, and anticipate it... but if you can execute it consistently, it's definitely a good change of pace (like varying fast/slow, top/flat/slice/reverseslice, deep/short, etc...)
Too funny.I was listening to the Tennis Podcast 'Beyond the Baseline' a couple weeks ago, and Wertheim had Pam Shriver on. Pam was talking about how she played in her club's mixed doubles tournament with her son this past year. Her shoulder is apparently shot and can no longer serve overhand. She served the entire match underhand, and they won. She even served & volleyed off it.
The funny thing was, apparently one of her opponents was a highly ranked junior, and he would constantly crank his return into the bottom of the net. She said he had no idea what to do w/ her serve.
So, if its good enough for a multi-major winner at the club level, then it should be 'ok' for any of us hacks.
Been teaching one of my older students who has shoulder issues and she now holds serve 60-70% of the time at 3.5 level. Other older ladies hate returning it. I told her I would teach her, but she had to be ready for lots of swearing and grumbling. What is interesting is that as I teach her I'm also playing around with it and now can kick the ball sideways a few feet pretty easily, and also have a little power cutter, and one that barely clears net then kicks sideways. I don't use in match play out of respect for opponents and my shoulder is fairly healthy. But, since she now has multiple underhand serves she is very dangerous player and winning much more.
Well, if you and your opponent are competitive in level, then any legal shot is appropriate. I personally don't think the drop serve is effective so I would not use it myself, but if someone thinks it gives them an advantage, then have at it.Do you only hit balls your opponents like, out of respect for your opponents?
Good one. No but playing with 4.5-5.0 players and serving underhand it will be hard to find hitting partners. Most struggle returning my serves anyway so not that much of an advantage. Hit whatever works, or what you like. I like to hit hard and seems to work.Do you only hit balls your opponents like, out of respect for your opponents?